A new series of industry forums will give growers and advisers the opportunity to bring local issues and priorities to the attention of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
Meetings in Derrinallum, Victoria, as well as South Australian towns Lucindale, Cambrai, Crystal Brook and Bute will be held during March as part of GRDC's National Grower Network (NGN) Forum program.
Each event is a valuable opportunity for growers to collaborate with their peers, brainstorm issues affecting local crop production, share them with the GRDC team, and be updated on findings from regional research projects.
GRDC grower relations manager – south Rebekah Starick said the NGN Forum program is a 'front door' for growers and advisers to engage with GRDC.
GRDC grower relations manager – south Rebekah Starick says the upcoming NGN Forums are a 'front door' for grain growers and advisers to engage with GRDC. Photo: GRDC
"The NGN is one of the critical ways we hear directly from growers so their ideas can help inform local research, development and extension projects," Ms Starick said.
"This ground-up approach ensures we are answering the questions or providing information that growers and their advisers need. It is about working together to improve yields, manage input costs and support them to deal with whatever pest, weed or disease or other issue is causing them to lose sleep.
"We also share information coming out of regional and national research projects that could make a difference on their farm. So, these events are really about that vital two-way exchange between GRDC and our most important stakeholders' (growers)."
She said past NGN Forums had brought many locally important issues to light, leading to valuable GRDC investments across the southern region.
These have ranged from the expansion of a project to improve local knowledge and management techniques for gravel soils to promising research on controlling the hyper-aggressive daisy Gazania.
The NGN forums also include research presentations on locally relevant topics.
The upcoming dates and venues are:
- DERRINALLUM, Wednesday 11 March 2026 | 9.00am – 1.00pm
Derrinallum Bowling Club, Chatsworth Road, Derrinallum VIC 3325
Guest speaker: Professor Chris Preston (Adelaide University) Pre-season weed management and herbicide resistance
- LUNCINDALE, Thursday 12 March 2026 | 9.00am – 1.00pm
Lucindale Bowling Club, Bowling Club Road, Lucindale SA 5272
Guest speaker: Dr Peter Boutsalis (Adelaide University) Herbicide resistance and weed management
- CAMBRAI, Tuesday 24 March 2026 | 1.00pm – 5.00pm
Cambrai Sportsground, Sportsground Road, Cambrai SA 5353
Guest speaker: Brett Asphar (Specialised Ag) Seeder set-up and seeder bar function
- CRYSTAL BROOK, Thursday 26 March 2026 | 9.00am – 1.00pm
Crystal Brook Golf Club, Hughes Gap Road, Crystal Brook SA 5523
Guest speaker: Brett Asphar (Specialised Ag) Seeder set-up and seeder bar function
- BUTE, Friday 27 March 2026 | 9.00am – 1.00pm
Bute Bowling Club, Third Street, Bute SA 5560
Guest speaker: Brett Asphar (Specialised Ag) Seeder set-up and seeder bar function
The NGN forums are free to attend and will be led by GRDC grower relations managers Rebekah Starick, Tim Bateman and Mitchell Fromm.
Morning tea and lunch is provided, and registration is essential for catering purposes.
Growers and advisers can learn more and register on the GRDC website – Upcoming updates and events.
